Champions League Group E wrap: Oscar stars as Chelsea draw

Chelsea began their Champions League title defence in uninspiring fashion, drawing 2-2 at home to Juventus on Wednesday.

Brazilian attacker Oscar threatened to steal the show with two goals in two minutes on his full Chelsea debut and in his first Champions League appearance, the second a strike of rare quality.

But Arturo Vidal gave his team hope with a fine strike shortly before half-time and substitute Fabio Quagliarella made the home side pay for a sloppy performance with an 81st-minute equaliser.

It was the least the well-drilled visitors deserved in their return to the competition following a three-season hiatus.

Both sides struggled to create opportunities in the early exchanges and Juventus began to threaten on the counter-attack and twice came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half.

But Oscar made his mark and demonstrated why he had been preferred to Juan Mata in the central playmaker role behind Fernando Torres.

Eden Hazard was once again the creator as he teed up Oscar, who let fly from 25 yards and saw his deflected strike leave Gianluigi Buffon with no chance on 31 minutes.

If there was an element of fortune to Oscar’s first goal, the second was an absolute gem of imagination and execution.

With a slightly heavy first touch he was able to control the pass he received on the edge of the area and he curled a delightful shot into the top corner, leaving Buffon with no chance.

Chelsea switched off momentarily in the 38th minute and they were punished by Arturo Vidal, who lashed a low shot beyond Petr Cech from 20 yards to give his team hope going into the break.

Shortly after Oscar had departed to a standing ovation from the home supporters, Quagliarella took full advantage of sloppiness from John Obi Mikel.

Mikel gave the ball away deep in his own half and a Claudio Marchisio pass found Quagliarella and the forward neatly finished through Cech’s legs.

It could have been even worse for the home side when with four minutes left, Quagliarella clipped the top of the bar following a delightful turn and shot.

Shakhtar Donetsk got their Champions League campaign off to the best possible start with a 2-0 win over Nordsjaelland at Donbass Arena.

A double from Henrik Mkhitaryan was enough to see off Nordsjaelland in a game which saw the Danes make a good fist of their European debut.